Stop Saying 'Let Me Know Your Thoughts'—To Get The Answers You Need, Do This Instead
The video advises against vague email closings like 'let me know your thoughts' when writing to executives, as these phrases lack urgency and specificity. Instead, it recommends techniques like binary choices, deadlines, and one-word reply prompts to make it easier for busy leaders to respond quickly.
Summary
The transcript focuses on how to write more effective emails to executives and leaders who receive hundreds of messages daily. The speaker explains that busy decision-makers skim emails quickly — reading the greeting, the first sentence, and jumping to the bottom — meaning that a weak or vague call to action at the end of an email significantly reduces the chances of getting a timely response.
The speaker identifies three common phrases to avoid. 'Let me know your thoughts' is called the biggest culprit, as it places too much cognitive burden on the reader to figure out what's being asked. 'Looking forward to your response' is similarly criticized for providing no actionable direction and leaving the door open for the message to be deprioritized. 'Feel free to respond anytime' is flagged as entirely lacking urgency, essentially inviting the recipient to defer the message indefinitely.
In place of these weak closings, the speaker recommends three actionable techniques. First, using a binary choice — such as 'Do you prefer Tuesday or Wednesday?' or 'Option A or B?' — narrows the response universe dramatically and makes replying effortless. Second, adding a specific deadline, such as 'I need these numbers by 12 p.m. — is that possible?', signals urgency and helps the reader triage appropriately. Third, prompting a one-word reply — like 'Respond yes and I'll get this in motion' or 'Give this a thumbs up and we'll move ahead' — lowers the barrier to response to its absolute minimum, creating a win-win where the executive responds quickly and the sender gets what they need.
Key Insights
- The speaker argues that 'Let me know your thoughts' is the biggest culprit in ineffective executive emails because it forces the busy recipient to do the cognitive work of figuring out what is actually being asked, especially when multiple topics were raised.
- The speaker claims that phrases like 'Looking forward to your response' provide no real call to action and effectively leave an open door for the message to be deprioritized or ignored.
- The speaker argues that using a binary choice — such as 'Do you prefer Tuesday or Wednesday?' or 'Option A or B?' — dramatically reduces the cognitive load of replying and makes it far more likely the executive will respond immediately.
- The speaker contends that adding a specific deadline to an email request, such as 'I need these numbers by 12 p.m. — is that possible?', helps time-starved decision-makers triage in real time and respond at the appropriate moment.
- The speaker asserts that prompting a one-word reply — such as 'Respond yes and I'll get this in motion' or 'Give this a thumbs up and we'll move ahead' — lowers the response barrier to its minimum and creates a win-win outcome for both parties.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] If you are writing to an executive or leader, you need to be thinking about writing in a way that makes sure they are responding to you quickly. You are corresponding with people who are getting hundreds of messages every single day. They read the greeting, the first sentence, maybe they skip to the middle very quickly, but then they jump right to the bottom. And if you're a call to action is not clear, it is not specific, then you have lost a lot of leverage in that situation. This is what you should say to get a faster response from powerful people. [0:30] There's a couple of phrases you absolutely should not use, and they're probably exactly…
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to AccessMore from CNBC Make It
I Bought An Abandoned Church For $45K & Spent $194K Making It A Home
A woman purchased an abandoned 128-year-old church in Michigan for $45,000 and invested $194,000 in renovations to transform it into her dream home, a 'chouse.' She completed major structural work including re-roofing, rewiring, and leveling the floor while repurposing original church elements like pews and stained glass windows, with plans to eventually convert the adjacent parsonage into a bed and breakfast.
How Imax profits from theaters it doesn't own
IMAX is experiencing record profitability despite owning only one theater, generating $410 million in revenue in 2025 through two main business models: content solutions (12.5% of box office receipts) and technology licensing via revenue-sharing agreements with theater chains. The company's success hinges on its brand reputation and audience demand for the IMAX experience, which has created a self-reinforcing cycle benefiting filmmakers, theaters, and IMAX itself.
This 18-year-old buys abandoned storage units — his side hustle brings in $135K/year
An 18-year-old entrepreneur runs a side business buying and reselling items from abandoned storage units, generating $135,000 in gross revenue and $82,000 in pre-tax profit in 2025 while spending 20-25 hours per week. He invests most profits into ETFs and has generated $85,000 in revenue by mid-July 2026.
Why More Americans Are Stuck In Car Loans
Americans are increasingly trapped in longer car loans averaging over 70 months, with many rolling negative equity from previous vehicles into new loans. This creates a cycle of permanent car debt, with buyers paying significantly more in interest while focusing on monthly payments rather than total purchase costs.
We Left The U.S. And Bought A House In Spain For $72K
An American couple moved to southern Spain, purchased a house for $72,000 and renovated it for $60,000 to improve quality of life and affordability. They discuss their mortgage-free lifestyle, lower living expenses, and how raising their daughter in Spain offers different cultural values and community safety compared to the U.S.